Day 1:TIRANA

Arrival in “Mother Tereza” airport, meet & assisted by our guide. Transfer by car and accommodation in the hotel.

Enjoy the welcome dinner in a characteristic restaurant of Tirana.

Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 2: BERAT

On the way to Berat we will visit Durres, Albania’s second largest city was known formerly (in antiquity) as Durrahium and is one of the oldest towns in the country and Balkan Peninsula. It was for centuries the largest port on the Adriatic Sea, and the start of the Via Egnatia to Constantinople. Visit the town including the Byzantine city walls, Roman amphitheater and the Archaeological Museum.
After a coffee on the beach departure to Berat, the city of 1000 windows. Berati is a treasure-trove of Albanian history and culture, and testimony to the country’s tradition of religious harmony. Visit at the post-Byzantine monumental Cathedral of Shën Maria are located within the castle. The Cathedral of Shën Mëria houses a museum of works by the famous iconographers of the 16th century: Onufri, and his son, Nikolla. There are over 100 icons on display and they also include works of other artists.
After a lunch in the castle we will stop in one of the best wineries of Albania near Berati and will spend some time in wine testing. In afternoon enjoy this characteristic city. Overnight in Berati.

Day 3: OHRID (Macedonia)

On the way to Ohrid we will have a short coffee break in Elbasan. Located at the Shkumbini River, where it crosses the famous Egnatia Road, the city of Elbasani – ancient Scampini – is just 50 km away from Tirana. In ancient times, Scampini was a typical Roman fortification, but in the 4th century it received a new administrative status and, with its new name Hiscampis, it became one of the major cities of the new Epirus, home of the area’s only Roman legion.
For lunch in waterside of Pogradec we will try the lake special trout called Koran.
For lunch in waterside of Pogradec we will try the lake special trout called Koran.
Overnight in Ohrid.

Day 4: SKOPJE (Macedonia)

After breakfast we will proceed to Skopje the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. When the Roman Empire was divided into eastern and western halves in 395 AD, Scupi came under Byzantine rule from Costandinopole. At its heart is a hill and on it is built the Fortress known as Kale (or Kale Gradishe). The hill overlooks the Vardar river valley and was occupied in Neolithic times. It is a natural strong point and there is no exact record of when the first fortified structure was built here. A great earthquake levelled the City in 518 AD and it is known the castle was rebuilt from scratch by the Roman Emperor Justinian (527-565). Some sources insist that part of the remaining structure is Roman, but it seems most likely that the oldest surviving material is Byzantine, dating to the 6th or 7th Century. Other things to visit are Statue of Alexander the Great, Memorial Hause of Mother Theresa, Daut Pasha Hamam.
Lunch in skopje and enjoy the nightlife of downtown of the city.

Day 5: PRISHTINA (Kosovo)

On the way to Saranda you will have the opportunity to view the marvelous panorama of coast of Albania. This warm Mediterranean zone has nearly 300 sunny days a year, and the average temperature in July is 25°C (77° Fahrenheit). The coast is famous for its crystal-clear waters, and small, intimate pebble beach’s. We will go through beautiful small characteristic villages along the coast as Dhermi, Vunoi, Himara, Qeparo and Lukove.
After the fall of Rome, Pristina grew from the ruins of the former Roman city. The city was located at a junction of roads leading in all directions throughout the Balkans. For this reason Pristina rose to become an important trading centre on the main trade routes across south-eastern Europe.
We will visit some interestin sites as an interesting old Turkish house, lovingly restored with ethnic Albanian objects, statue of Mother Teresa, Fatih Mosque.
Lunch in Pristina and enjoy a evenin in capital of Kosovo will a beautiful nightlife. Overnight in Pristina.

Day 6: Podgorica-Budva (Montenegro)

On the way of Podgorica we will stop for a visit to the Moracki Monastery. The Moraca Monastery is one of the most monumental medieval monuments of Montenegro. It was built in 1252 by Stefan, son of King Vukan and Nemanja's grandson. It is situated in an extended part of picturesque canyon of the Moraca River. The name literally means "under the Gorica" in the Serbian language; Gorica (meaning "little mountain") is the name of the hill that overlooks center of the city. A former town (now ruins) named Doclea, existed in pre-Roman and Roman times and was located about 3 km northwest from Podgorica. The Roman Emperor Diocletian hailed from this region. When Podgorica was founded before the 11th century, it was called Birziminium. In the Middle Ages, the town was known as Ribnica before 1326, and between 1946 and 1992 it was called Titograd.
You will have the possibilities to visit the Millenium bridge, St. George church , Lake of Shkodra. Overnight in Budva.

Day 7: Budva-Kotor-Dubrovnik

After breakfast we will visit Budva. The coastal area around Budva, called the Budvanska rivijera, is the centre of Montenegro's tourism, and is well known for its sandy beaches, diverse nightlife, and examples of Mediterranean architecture. Budva is 3,500 years old, which makes it the oldest settlements on the Adriatik sea coast. In the close vicinity of Budva there are exclusive resorts such as town-hotel Sveti Stefan and Milocer, places frequented by various celebrities as well as local businessmen and politicians.
The old Mediterranean port of Kotor is surrounded by an impressive City built by the Republic of Venice and Venetian influence remains predominant in the city's architecture. The Bay (Boka Kotorska; Bocche di Cattaro), one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea, is sometimes called the southern-most fjord in Europe. After lunch on the Dalmatian Coast we will proceed to Dubrovnik.It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 8: MOSTAR-SARAJEVO

Morning depart for Sarajevo. On the way visit to the city of Mostar. What makes this city known is it’s famous bridge. The Old Bridge was built by the Ottoman empire in 1565. It was the great architect Mimar Hajrudin who had succeeded with the impossible mission to cross the Neretva river with a single span stone bridge. The Old Bridge has been rebuilt (completed in 2004, almost 11 years after its destruction), using some of its original pieces recovered from the Neretva river. A significant portion of the city has been rebuilt and visitors might be surprised to see that this formerly war-torn city is a lively and beautiful destination once again, particularly the area within and around the old town. Still, many visible signs of Mostar's troubled recent history remain. Lunch in Mostar.
Sarajevo is one of the most historically interesting cities in Europe. It is the place where the Western & Eastern Roman Empire split; where the people of the Roman Catholic west, Eastern Orthodox east and the Ottoman south, met, lived and warred. It has been both an example of historical turbulence and the clash of civilizations, as well as a beacon of hope for peace and tolerance through multi-cultural integration.

Day 9: Sarajevo

After a late morning wake-up you will have time for shopping characteristic Albanian souvenirs.
Transfer to the airport of Sarajevo.

Accommodations

3* Hotels Room Double Occupancy (or similar)

Sightseeing

Private day guided tour during all days including Museum entrance fees and wine testing

Private half day guide to around Tirana during shopping time with English speaking guide

Transfers

Private transfers in luxury car from and to Rinas Airport

English speaking assistant

Meals

Breakfast daily at hotel

Lunch in, included everyday and the first dinner in Tirana

Services

Local emergency contact number daily.

Does not include

Airfare

Travel Insurance (highly recommended)

Tips and gratuities to drivers and local guides

1) Consult with our tour designers

Contact our office by phone or e-mail and speak to one of our tour designers who will answer any question you have about our suggested tour. They will listen attentively to your ideas and plans and suggest changes to personalize the tour based on your interests and budget.

Tel: +355 684040066
E-mail: reservations@bestbalkantours.com

2) We send you a Proposal

Shortly after your initial contact with our tour designers, you will receive a draft proposal based on your earlier discussions, normally within 2 business days. This proposal is a no obligation draft for your review and comments. Any additions or modifications will be implemented and a new proposal will be forwarded to you for approval.

3) You like what you see!

Upon meeting your requirements and expectations, you will be requested to send a deposit in the amount of 25% of total. Final Payment is due 45 days prior to scheduled departure date.

4) Buon viaggio!

Approximately, 2 weeks prior to departure you will receive a personalized and detailed day by day itinerary booklet and the necessary vouchers for the services to be provided, along with a general information section on the various regions of Italy.

The booklet and vouchers will include all the important information; addresses, phone & mobile numbers for all your service providers, hotels as well as the phone number of our office in Rome.